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All You Need to Know About Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Disease (CFS) is a complex mental disorder that causes extreme weakness and fatigue. The fatigue does not go away even after the patient rests and persists for a long time limiting the patient's ability to perform daily chores. It may even cause long term disability or illness, particularly in young people and children.

Causes of chronic fatigue syndrome

The actual cause of the chronic fatigue syndrome has not been found yet. Still, various theories have been put forward in order to narrow down the search to a few possible risk factors for CFS :

  • Infections : Many infections have been studied to understand if they can cause or initiate CFS. These include mononucleosis, Candida albicans, Coxiella burnetti, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus (XMLV).

  • HPA Axis : Several hormone abnormalities have been observed among CFS patients. One of them is the altered secretion of Corticotrophin Releasing Hormone (CRH), cortisol and so on due to the abnormal functioning of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA axis).

  • Low blood pressure : Many CFS patients have been found to have disturbances in blood and pulse regulation in their body. Making it a probable cause for CFS.

  • Nutritional deficiency : The importance of a balanced diet for a healthy life is proved time and again. Even in the case of CFS or any other diseases for that matter, a balanced diet comprising of all six major nutrients and the minor nutrients can help to keep diseases at bay.

    Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome

    The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are often overlooked and neglected because of their similarity to other diseases. The fatigue is followed by many other symptoms that point towards possibility of CFS :

  • Mental exertion and exhaustion.

  • Sleeping problems.

  • Concentration and memory.

  • Persistent joint and muscle pain with tender lymph nodes.

  • Visual disturbances.

  • Sore throat.

  • Dizziness and nausea.

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, depression and mood swings.

    Diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome

    Since the symptoms of CFS are similar to other disorders, its diagnosis can take a long time. Also, the illness follows a pattern of remission and relapse. Doctors employ a variety of test to rule out other possibilities. These include :

  • CBC : Complete Blood Count (CBC) test provides crucial information about the type and cell count of the patient's blood.

  • ESR : Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test detects the presence of certain types of inflammations.

  • Glucose level test : This is done to check for diabetes.

  • Urinalysis : The urine test is done to determine the overall health condition of the patient.

    If a patient has CFS symptoms, he/she must consult a health care expert to know if any other conditions are responsible for their symptoms. It's also crucial not to delay visiting a doctor. The diagnosis must be finalized by a health care professional only after other conditions/diseases have been ruled out.

    Thursday, 14 May 2015 14:02, Published in Blog